Nissan Rogue vs. Nissan Murano: What’s The Difference
Photo by Tigran Hambardzumyan on Unsplash
To say that SUVs and crossovers have taken over the market is an understatement. If you love driving a larger vehicle that can transport many people, it’s hard to go wrong with an SUV or crossover. Two of the most sought-after SUVs available are the Nissan Rogue and Nissan Murano.
Nissan Rogue vs. Nissan Murano, how are they different? Which one is the better SUV?
Today, we have another head-to-head comparison between the Nissan Rogue vs. Nissan Murano. We will be exploring their differences to see which SUV is the best fit for your needs.
Exterior Design
The 2021 Nissan Rogue received a much-needed style update that many customers appreciate. Nissan wanted to go bold with the Rogue, and that’s evident in the new exterior design. Standout design elements include the signature floating roof and the updated V-Motion grille that adds sophistication to an otherwise busy design of the Rogue.
The “U-shape” body side and the new headlights add a heavily stylized aesthetic that gives the Rogue a distinctive look. Nissan also included the new signature LED taillights and “U-Shaped” body to complete the Rogue’s handsome new styling.
Meanwhile, the 2021 Nissan Murano boasts a more in-your-face aesthetic that’s truly eye-catching. It’s safe to say that the Murano is one of the most unique-looking SUVs in the segment.
We have the traditional Nissan V-Motion grille, swoopy ride profile, angular headlights, and stylish alloy wheel options. The 20-inch black satin alloy wheels are by far our favorite and bump the Murano’s wow factor. It also comes standard with a dual-panel panoramic moonroof for the Platinum trim and is optional for the SV and SL.
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Performance and Fuel Economy
The Nissan Murano is powered by a 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6 engine, which should be old news to you if you’re a long-time Nissan fan. The 2021 Murano’s powertrain can crank out 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque and is paired with a variable automatic transmission (CVT). Unfortunately, the Murano lags in performance compared to its segment rivals.
The 3.5 V6 engine is partly the reason why the Murano feels dated. After all, Nissan has been using this engine for more than a decade. Nissan made some refinements to the engine, but you can only do so much. With that said, the Murano delivers a peppy performance with a pleasing pavement soundtrack - making it a perfect city jaunter.
On the other hand, the 2021 Nissan Rogue is equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 181 hp 181 lb-ft of torque. It is the same engine used in the previous rogue, but it did receive a modest increase for the 2021 version. Standard is a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. For reference, the Rogue’s performance is fairly comparable to the Honda CR-V.
While it’s nothing mind-blowing, the Rogue offers a zippy drive around town and enough power for passing slower cars and merging with traffic. The 2021 model has also improved in terms of handling and acceleration.
As you can see, if you’re looking for pure performance numbers, the Murano is the clear choice with better power and towing capacity. However, the Rogue still offers competitive horsepower without compromising fuel efficiency.
The 2021 Rogue has a fuel economy of EPA-estimated 27 mpg/city and 35 mpg/hwy. Conversely, the 2021 Murano has a fuel economy rating of 20 mpg/city and 28 mpg/hwy.
Interior and Cargo Space
Similar to the latest Nissan Sentra models, the Rogue benefits from a plusher, stylish, and more upscale interior. The Rogue’s interior features high-quality materials and an upscaled heads-up display. In-car acoustics are also excellent thanks to the acoustic windshield glass, a multi-link rear suspension, and a thick dash insulator.
The Nissan Rogue can comfortably accommodate five people across two rows. Overall, the Rogue has a spacious cabin with plenty of front legroom (41.5 inches) and a slightly increased rear legroom (38.5 inches). The Rogue also offers generous cargo space measuring 31.6 cu-ft for the S and SV trims and a larger 36.6 cu-ft of cargo space for SL and Platinum.
On the other hand, the 2021 Murano features an upscale but fairly pedestrian interior. One of the most striking visual elements of the interior is the center console that mimics the exterior V-Motion grille. Compared to the Rogue, the Murano’s interior looks dated in comparison. However, it’s a well-equipped interior with updated features.
Like the Rogue, the Murano is a five-seater with an ample amount of leg and headroom for both front and rear passengers. The Murano has a slightly roomier passenger space with 40.5 inches of front legroom and 38.7 inches in the back. In addition, the Murano has a bit of advantage in cargo with 32.1 cu-ft of space for luggage. The rear seats can be folded for a total of 67 cu-ft of cargo space.
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Infotainment and Safety Features
As mentioned, the Nissan Murano’s infotainment system looks outdated and isn’t as responsive as we hoped. The 8.0-inch color touchscreen display has an easy-to-use layout and uses the NissanConnect infotainment system. Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integrations are standard on all trims.
For us, the 2021 Nissan Murano clawed back plenty of points for its safety features. As an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the Murano offers a wealth of advanced safety tech as standard features, including auto emergency braking, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, high beam assist, intelligent lane intervention, and more. In terms of safety, the Murano is one of the best SUVs in the segment.
Meanwhile, the Rogue also sports an 8.0-inch display as a standard with integrations for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The display looks crisp and more modern compared to the Murano’s infotainment system. Optional features include in-dash navigation and a Bose stereo system. If you get the Platinum trim, a customizable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster can be yours, along with the bundled 10.8-inch HUD.
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For safety, the 2021 Rogue is also an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ with ‘Good’ ratings across all crashworthiness tests except for the Side, where it received the ‘Average’ score. The Rogue uses the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite standard on all trims. Standard safety features include auto emergency braking, intelligent forward collision warning, blind-spot warning, lane departure warning, and more.
Nissan Rogue vs. Nissan Murano: Which SUV is Superior?
This Nissan Rogue vs. Nissan Murano is a very close head-to-head comparison. However, they greatly differ in pricing. The base price for the Rogue is about $25,650, while the Murano’s starting price is $32,510. For most people, the price alone can justify choosing the Rogue over the Murano.
However, the Murano does have several advantages over the Rogue, especially with performance, cargo space, and safety ratings. But you have to keep in mind that the Rogue doesn’t fall far behind the Murano in every category but is a lot less expensive.
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